First-time vegetable gardeners
Photos of raised bed, potato bag and self-watering planter courtesy of Gardener's Supply
It looks like the folks at Gardener's Supply, one of my favorite gardening resources, have been swamped by questions from all the first-time gardeners who are jumping on the grow-your-own bandwagon this season.
Here's a look at their advice.
1. Where Do I Put the Garden?
For optimum health and productivity, most vegetables require at least eight hours of full sun each day. The more sun, the better, so it makes sense to locate your garden in the sunniest part of your yard. Since your garden will need to be watered at some points during the growing season, you'll also need access to a hose -- or be prepared to carry watering cans.
2. How Do I Start? Do I Just Start Digging?
New vegetable gardeners may want to start growing in either a raised bed or in a container that's specifically geared toward growing vegetables. Gardener's Supply's self-watering Organic Tomato Success Kit or Potato Bins, for example, can be used to grow tomatoes or a number of other vegetables in a small space.
A self-contained raised bed garden that's approximately 3' x 6' will accommodate a dozen different crops in a small space - and more beds can be added as enthusiasm and experience grow. There are a variety of raised bed styles to choose from or you can just purchase the Raised Bed Corners and make your own.
If you have a small space or deck, containers may be the best choice for you. If you have a sunny spot on your lawn for a raised bed, that will help create a space for a variety of crops.3. What Do I Need for Soil?
Good soil is the single most important ingredient for a productive organic garden. The importance of good soil can not be emphasized enough. One of the benefits of containers and raised beds is that they can be filled with a soil blend that's vastly superior to the native soil in your yard.
This high-quality soil will ensure that the roots of your plants can grow freely and find the water and nutrients they need to be healthy and productive. If you're planning to dig up your yard, it is possible to purchase a soil testing kit and then amend your soil with the proper ingredients. But for beginners who just want to get growing immediately, filling raised beds and/or containers means you can purchase and fill with great soil right away.
4. What Should I Plant?
Fill your garden with vegetables you like to eat. If you're big on salads, you'll want to plant things like lettuce, cherry tomatoes, cucumbers and carrots. If you love to cook, you may want to plant onions and peppers, leeks, potatoes and herbs.
Many first-time gardeners plant too much, and then get frustrated and exhausted by July. It's important to start small and not go overboard. It's much better to pick 5-6 different crops and learn by caring for them and watching them grow, then expand the following year.
5. Is it Better to Use Seeds or Transplants?
Though most of the vegetables you'll want to grow CAN be started directly in the garden from seed, in many cases it's best to start out with a plant. Starting with a plant can speed time to harvest by a month or more. You may also find that if you're only putting in one or two plants of a particular type of vegetable (such as two tomatoes or one parsley plant), sometimes it makes more sense to purchase a couple of plants rather than buy an entire packet of seeds.
Some crops such as carrots and beets, as well as beans and peas do not transplant well, so they are usually sown directly into the garden from seed. In the case of salad greens, you'll probably want to grow quite a few plants, and it is more economical to buy a packet of seeds than to purchase multiple six-packs of lettuce transplants.
